Bandini

Jhene Aiko Makes A Lazy Day Anthem With Childish Gambino In Bed Peace (Video)

In time for cold season, when it's often harder to get out of bed in the morning, Def Jam's Jhene Aiko makes a jam about her ideal day. This plays like a modern day version to LL Cool J's "The Doo Wop" kinda, as she talks about a day filled... Read more

October 28, 2013 Fresh, Video

RJD2 Explains His Ethos Of Crate Digging & What He Looks For In Records (Video)

Fuse's Crate Diggers series continues with Philly-based RJD2. A founding member of the MHz with Copywriter, Camu Tao, and others, RJ became famous in the early 2000s for his solo works on Def Jux. Since those days, RJ's laced joints for Little Brother, Aceyalone, and Cage, among many others. His... Read more

October 28, 2013 Fresh, Video

Planet Asia Gets Downright Scientific On Go You Slavia (Audio)

Planet Asia has had quite a run in the last two years. After resonating with many on Black Belt Theatre, Fresno's finest formed Durag Dynasty with Alchemist, and made a hazy LP earlier this year. Now teaming with Frank The Butcher & Paul Mighty for "Go You Slavia," the MC... Read more

October 28, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Needle To The Groove: The Return Of The True Free-Form Mix (Food For Thought)

With less than 10 weeks left on the year, it can be challenging to make sense of 2013 in Hip-Hop. From the conversations I'm having with fellow fans, there isn't a runaway favorite for Album Of The Year, Mixtape Of The Year, or even Artist Of The Year. The biggest... Read more

October 27, 2013 Food for Thought, Fresh

Ice Cube Calls Himself Sasquatch In A New Single Right In Time For Halloween (Video)

Twenty years ago, Ice Cube was flat-out "Wicked." Now, the N.W.A/Westside Connection alum is aligning himself with Sasquatch. In a straightforward Trap-influenced song, Cube lets the video do the talking. Always dabbling in Horror, this comes seemingly out of nowhere and in time for Halloween. Tales From The Hood soundtrack-meets-2013.... Read more

October 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz & Sadat X Honor Sam Peckinpah In Style (Video)

In addition to his knowledge of Hip-Hop, R.A. The Rugged Man is a boxing enthusiast and huge film buff. On his 2013 acclaimed LP Legends Never Die, R.A. linked with frequent collaborator Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) and Brand Nubian's Sadat X for "Sam Peckinpah." For those who might... Read more

October 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

Killer Mike & El-P Run The Jewels & Get It (Video)

A couple years ago, TDE offered up Kendrick Lamar's Section.80 for a free Soundcloud stream when the indie effort was released. Easily accessible, the acclaimed album felt like a mixtape to many. The same was true of Ab-Soul's #ControlSystem and a host of other albums these last three years. Killer... Read more

October 24, 2013 Fresh, Video

Large Professor, O.C., Inspectah Deck & Tragedy Khadafi Team Up On Marco Polo’s Astonishing (Audio)

Could you imagine this between 1993 and 1998? Large Professor (Main Source), Inspectah Deck (Wu-Tang Clan), Tragedy Khadafi (Capone-N-Noreaga fam), and O.C. (Diggin' In The Crates) on one song? Well, in 2013, Canadian producer Marco Polo hooks it up. From his PA 2: The Director's Cut album coming next month,... Read more

October 24, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Get A Glimpse Of The Jimi Hendrix Hear My Train A Comin’ Documentary (Video)

Jimi Hendrix was a guitar god. The master of Blues, Rock and Psychedelia all in one has been the subject of many books in films. Outside of the prospects of OutKast's Andre 3000 playing the Washington state native in a biopic, Jimi's ties to Hip-Hop run deep. The music of... Read more

October 24, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Pete Rock Reveals What He’s Currently Listening To, Talks Production Hardware Vs. Software (Video)

Pete Rock's knowledge of records is of a higher plane, and we all know it. However, it's interesting to hear what Soulbrother #1 lists in his current listening rotation: The Thompson Twins ("Hold Me Now"), The Police ("Walking On The Moon"), and The Talking Heads ("This Must Be The Place").... Read more

October 24, 2013 Fresh

Dilated Peoples’ Rakaa, Zion I’s Zumbi & Living Legends’ Sunspot Jonz Kick Chess Raps (Audio)

Hip-Hop and chess go hand-in-hand, word to DJ Quik. A lot of your favorite MCs, DJs, and producers love to apply lessons learned of the 64 squares to life and competitive art. Dilated Peoples' Rakaa Iriscience, Zion I's Zumbi, and Living Legends' Sunspot Jonz link with the Hip-Hop Chess Federation... Read more

October 24, 2013 Audio, Fresh

DJ Kenny Parker Unearths 22 Minutes Of Lost KRS-One & DJ Scott La Rock Dopeness (Audio)

For as busy as he's been for the last 27 years, KRS-One is not the best curator of his own body of works. However, lucky for the Boogie Down Productions co-founder, The Teacha has always rolled with people that know how to chronicle the times. Kris' brother, DJ Kenny Parker... Read more

October 24, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Alchemist Refreshes With A Coke-Inspired Joint Featuring Action Bronson (Audio)

With another Rare Chandeliers coming eventually, Alchemist and Action Bronson further traditions, courtesy of "Diagnosis." The Dr. Romanelli-sponsored joint features a Madlib-style collage of Coca-Cola advertising from the 1960s to 1990s, with somebody enjoys the the fruits of leisure on vocals. The execs in the Atlanta probably won't want this... Read more

October 24, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Jay Rock Counts His Numbers On The Boards (Audio)

Like Al Pacino's devilish monologue, nobody is gonna see Jay Rock coming. The elder statesman of Black Hippy, the first artist of TDE may have gone under the radar a bit with Follow Me Home. However, the Watts native who never seems to say much off the mic, is saying... Read more

October 23, 2013 Audio, Fresh

The Natural Elements Return In An Unlikely Fashion, Saying There’s No Competition (Audio)

In the booming late '90s-early 2000s scene of "Underground Hip-Hop" in New York City, one group who was deeply present was the Natural Elements. Alumni of Stretch & Bobbito's radio show, the crew which included A-Butta, L Swift and Mr. Voodoo as core MCs got a major cosign from DJ... Read more

October 23, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Tito Lopez Rips The Mic’s Pockets Inside Out On Lo’ Money (Audio)

Gulfport, Mississippi's finest may not have an album out, but the Capitol Records hopeful captivates ears with a one-minute rap over J. Cole's interlude instrumental. Lopez plays with the concept: 'Lo money can mean his gwap, Polo paper, or just having short-ends. Related: Big Sant – Firewater II ft Big... Read more

October 21, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Scarface, Jadakiss, Meek Mill, John Legend, Akon & Anthony Hamilton Appear In DJ Khaled’s Never Surrender (Video)

DJ Khaled has pulled off some pretty substantial collaborations over the years. In addition to his extensive work with YMCMB and Maybach Music Group, it was Khaled who united Jadakiss and Beanie Sigel, it was Khaled who pushed the button on "Grammy Family," which will be a highlight of the... Read more

October 21, 2013 Fresh, Video

WC Explains Why He Avoided The Westside Connection & Cypress Hill Beef (Video)

One of the feuds that people tend to forget is the 1996 battle between Westside Connection and Cypress Hill. In the wake of 2Pac's murder, Eazy-E's death, and all the subliminals happening between The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan, it's easy to forget. However, a clever interviewer briefly asked... Read more

October 21, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Reap The Naturaw Gets Heat From Large Professor On The Wild Wild (Video)

The great Hip-Hop producers always seem to have a soft-spot for the hardcore storytellers. While not lyricists by some technical standards, Brooklyn duo Group Home was worthy of some of DJ Premier's finest creations on their Livin' Proof 1995 debut album. RZA looked out for Wu Killa Bees such as... Read more

October 21, 2013 Fresh, Video

Oddisee’s Got A Lot To Say On Album Bonus Cut Yeezus Was A Mortal Man (Audio)

In releasing his latest album, The Beauty In All, Oddisee let the music do the talking. One of the biggest stars out of the Low Budget Crew has a bonus-cut, "Yeezus Was A Mortal Man." Like Lupe Fiasco's controversially-titled single, this could appear to be about Kanye West or 2013... Read more

October 20, 2013 Audio, Fresh

The Masterful Place & Time Of Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage (Food For Thought)

Place and time can be everything in art. If a creator properly conveys place and time, the viewer of the artwork can learn so much more about the world it speaks from. When watching Goodfellas, you can undoubtedly know the stakes of every action before it’s explained to you. You... Read more

October 19, 2013 Food for Thought, Fresh

ScHoolboy Q & Jay Rock Hop On Isaiah Rashad’s Shot You Down For The TDE Remix (Audio)

Black Hippy's Jay Rock and ScHoolboy Q get Isaiah Rashad's message on "Shot You Down." The pair punches in their own take on the theme, and welcome their TDE brother with scorching accents to one of this year's viral heat-rocks. Jay Rock's been relatively quiet in 2013, but he damn... Read more

October 18, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Crooked I Channels Makaveli & Goes For Broke On Against All Odds (Audio)

When you upset Crooked I, you've got problems. Following this week's airing of Slaughterhouse's 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher, Crooked I does his rendition of 2Pac's (as Makaveli) "Against All Odds." While this is not a cover by any means, this is a thematic homage to the Don Killuminati closer,... Read more

October 17, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Scoe Is Above Tha Unfluence With Kendrick Lamar, Just Blaze, Hi-Tek & Xzibit (Mixtape)

Once known as Roscoe, Scoe has redefined himself in a 15-year career waiting in the wings. Kurupt's younger brother shared Young Gotti's ability to combine a Philadelphia childhood with a South Central adolescence for years. The onetime Priority Records hopeful has stayed strong in the role-playing position. Ten years removed... Read more

October 17, 2013 Fresh, Mixes

Cam’ron Delivers A Cold Freestyle In BET’s Backroom (Video)

The production and fashions might change, but Cam'ron stays the same. Killa hits BET's Backroom to talk first-person to part-time lover about the protocol of a relationship with the Diplomats' breakout star. The flow, wordplay, and sense of humor is here—word to "You're in good hands, but I ain't All-State."... Read more

October 16, 2013 Fresh, Video

Chuck Inglish, Mac Miller & Ab-Soul Channel The Beastie Boys In Came Thru / Easily (Video)

The Cool Kids' Chuck Inglish built a reputation on combining late '80s 808 drums with futuristic flows and style. For the video for "Came Thru / Easily," Chuck channels The Beastie Boys, tracking shots with his homies Ab-Soul and Mac Miller. Some dope animation matches the songs sensibilities nicely. Came... Read more

October 16, 2013 Fresh, Video

Exclusive: Rapsody & 9th Wonder Are In Our Area, Causing Mass Hysteria (Audio)

As Rapsody pulled from Nas' famous entrance phrase on "Halftime," 9th Wonder channeled Large Professor's echoey reverb and thumbing percussion for "Mass Hysteria"—which we are proud to premiere at AFH. Rap gives some of her finest wordplay on this cut which is mostly about being dope, but veers into some... Read more

October 16, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Black Moon Tells Enta Da Stage Stories 20 Years Later (Video)

Twenty years ago this month, Buckshort, DJ Evil Dee and 5FT made history with their debut album Enta Da Stage. As Black Moon, the Brooklyn trio gave Hip-Hop a sound that sounded just as edgy as the lyrics. A careful balance of stick-up tactics, weed-induced riddims, and '90s NYC imagery,... Read more

October 16, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Jon Connor Explains Chemistry With Dr. Dre & Preparing BET Awards Cypher (Video)

Ambrosia For Heads has been a big fan/supporter of Flint, Michigan MC Jon Connor for some time. Co-signed by Nas years ago, Jon has indeed confirmed that he's the latest act signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. Speaking with MTV News to coincide with the BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher that... Read more

October 16, 2013 Fresh, Video

Members Of Ultramagnetic MCs & Main Source Remember The Late Paul C.

For those that don't know, one of Hip-Hop's unseen hands in the late 1980s was a Queens, New York engineer/producer named Paul "C" McKasty. Large Professor, who came up with Paul (both with works uncredited) on albums by Eric B. & Rakim and Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo, named... Read more

October 16, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Mistah FAB Has Something To Say About Life’s Letdowns, Including Cancer (Audio)

If you've ever seen him Rap live, you will testify that Mistah FAB's MC'ing is elite. A true off-the-noggin freestyle master, FAB can battle, rock the party, and as seen here, tell you stories that rattle your core. Once an Atlantic Records hope, FAB's best-selling discography has never been a... Read more

October 15, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Madlib The Beat Konducta Provides A Psychedelic Time Machine Interlude In Black Widow (Audio)

Much has been written about J Dilla's Donuts. Seemingly, it's the most-discussed instrumental Hip-Hop project since DJ Shadow's Entroducing. With volumes upon volumes of "Beat Konducta" albums, it's disheartening that Madlib's works are often picked and chosen, as far as acclaim and notoriety. Now veering into a "Rock Konducta" series,... Read more

October 15, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Yelawolf Enlists Paul Wall For Some Trunk Muzik Hustling That Works On Two Levels (Video)

"Hustle" has become such a Hip-Hop cliche. Ever since Ricky Rozay's breakthrough 2006 single, everybody's hustling and/or a hustler, but everybody's looking for dividends. Both Yelawolf and Paul Wall have entered the scene (five-plus years apart, at the mainstream level) focused more on style than pushing the hustling envelope. For... Read more

October 15, 2013 Fresh, Video

DMX Helps Omar Wilson Tell The World To Have A Little Faith (Audio)

If this were 1999, this would be one of the biggest hits on radio: homogenous R&B/Rap collaboration, melody, and hard-edged, personal revelations from Earl Simmons. Omar Wilson cranks out an inspirational, uplifting tune, while DMX gives it some texture talking about growing up too fast, and claiming that he wants... Read more

October 15, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Freeway & The Jacka Coast 2 Coast Collaborate For Write My Wrongs (Mixtape)

Given his debut album's seamless collaborations with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, Freeway has always been a versatile vocalist. While the Soul-sampling, the aggression, and the subject matters of Freezer's work has always had a strong Philly backbone, this is an MC who has worked with Paul Wall, Kanye West,... Read more

October 15, 2013 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Terrace Martin Gives Drake’s From Time The Electro-Jazz Treatment (Audio)

Los Angeles-based Terrace Martin has been stepping out since Snoop Dogg's Ego Trippin' album. The Locke High alum has many styles, which are evident from his dynamic works with Kendrick Lamar, Kurupt, or Snoop. With his horn, keys, and synths, Terrace can make anything his own, while sharing it with... Read more

October 15, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Kanye West & Jimmy Kimmel Hash Things Out On TV (Video)

After a Twitter-fueled feud less than a month ago, friends-turned-foes Kanye West and Jimmy Kimmel sit down on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show to discuss what it was that upset 'Ye, and Jimmy's argument that it's okay to poke fun at these things. Kanye says the fight "took it back... Read more

October 10, 2013 Video

Da Mafia 6ix – Go Hard ft Yelawolf (Video)

Given the hard sonic texture of "Go Hard," along with the throwback qualities of reuniting 3/4 of Three 6 Mafia/Hypnotize Minds. The video matches, complete with fire, '66 Chevy Impalas on them things, and more jarring cuts than a Halloween flick. Hopefully this album lives up, as everybody's running around... Read more

October 9, 2013 Fresh, Video

Bun B Tells A$AP Rocky UGK’s Craziest (Almost) Fight Story (Video)

A$AP Rocky's Noisey Back & Forth series rolls onward. On a Houston tour stop, Bun B hops on the bus and seemingly makes a rare faded appearance (post-2007) to tell Rocky about the history (and sometimes misuse) of the world "Trill," his support of A Tribe Called Quest and Leaders... Read more

October 9, 2013 Fresh, Video

Jay Z Buys 100 Copies Of Nipsey Hussle’s $100 Mixtape, Crenshaw

We're big fans of Nipsey Hussle over here at Ambrosia For Heads. But we're not the only ones. It always seems to sound a little foreign when artists charge money for mixtapes in 2013—at least off the bat. Well, Nip' gave away Crenshaw for free, but then, for those lookin'... Read more

October 9, 2013 Fresh

7 Days Of Funk (Snoop Dogg + Dam Funk) – Faden Away

I cannot say that I saw this coming. However, as Snoop Dogg links with Eddie Murphy, why not do a song with Electro-Funk contemporary artist Dam Funk? Dam has been on Stones Throw Records for a number of years, upholding that spacey, stoned style that's more Egyptian Lover and Arabian... Read more

October 9, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Pusha T Says My Name Is My Name Is Inspired By 1994-1999 Hip-Hop Albums

In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Pusha T says that My Name Is My Name was made with the intention of no radio singles, a driving-music influence, and from The Clipse co-founder listening to his favorite albums from 1994-1999. So that being said... Heads, which albums do you think... Read more

October 9, 2013 Fresh, Video

Action Bronson’s 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher Sneak Preview (Video)

Bam-Bam Bronson goes off the top in a promo for October 15's airing of the recently-shot 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards show. The Queens MC is now on a major label and has a Top 200 digital EP under his belt, but he still hasn't lost his nonchalant flow from... Read more

October 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

Pusha T Decodes Nosetalgia (Video)

In the ongoing series, Pusha T sits with Life + Times to discuss "Nosetalgia," his much-talked about Kendrick Lamar collaboration from My Name Is My Name, released today. This is one of the biggest collaborations of 2013. Related: Pusha T – Decodes King Push (Video)... Read more

October 8, 2013 Throwback, Video

DJ Skizz – Metal Bars ft Masta Ace & Nature (Video)

DJ Skizz of Halftime Show fame loves New York. His B.Q.E. album features local legends like O.C., Cormega, and Craig G. On "Metal Bars," Skizz linked a Brooklyn-Queens (® 3rd Bass) tandem in Juice Crew alum Masta Ace and The Firm alum Nature. With both MCs having ties to Large... Read more

October 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

Geto Boys Interview + Performance

Even before the death of Eazy-E, it had been nearly four years since N.W.A. was in a room together, amicably—and that was without Ice Cube. Eric B. & Rakim have not done an interview together in over 20 years. There are so many collectives that you cannot get together. It's... Read more

October 8, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Pusha T – Juan Epstein Interview

I bought my copy of My Name Is My Name late last night. I went for two (one was a gift), but they only had one. As I purchased from the clerk, he remarked how the album is his favorite of the moment, and he was going to tell all... Read more

October 8, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Slum Village – Let It Go / Greatness (Video)

Few Hip-Hop groups have faced more hardship than Slum Village. J Dilla and Baatin have passed away well-before their times. Elzhi left on difficult terms with management, as did makeshift member/B.R. Gunna-part Black Milk left and found tremendous solo success. Now with founding member T3, Dilla's brother Illa J, and... Read more

October 8, 2013 Fresh, Video

Jean Grae – Gotham Down: cycle 1: Love In Infinity (Lo-Fi) (Album Stream)

In the late 2000s, Jean Grae's musical output slowed to a halt with her signing to Talib Kweli's Blacksmith/Warner Bros. deal. In the last three years however, the New York Underground Hip-Hop mainstay has partnered with DJ Drama for mixtapes, and now surprise-attacks us with an EP. Gotham Down is... Read more

October 8, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Molecules – Revenge (Video)

The Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C) family tree is real. The New York city production/MC collective has close affiliations with Kid Capri, Roc Raida, Ghetto Dwellas, Money Boss Players, Big Pun, and KRS-One. Now longer one to rhyme, Showbiz (aka Show) laces a track for Molecules from The Legion. The... Read more

October 8, 2013 Fresh, Video